Development near Bangsar retention pond violates KL City Plan, residents object

KUALA LUMPUR – The proposed luxury apartment project adjacent to a flood retention pond in Bangsar, which was recently given approval, is in direct violation of the Kuala Lumpur City Plan (KLCP), residents said when objecting to the development. 

They said the plan, which was gazetted in 2018, noted that the two land lots where the development is supposed to take place were not earmarked for residential properties. 

Instead, they were respectively zoned as a public open space and as a river, drain, lake and retention pond. 

In a press conference today, Bukit Bandaraya Residents’ Association (BBRA) president Charles Tan said there have been no amendments to the KLCP to allow for development in the affected area. 

In this regard, he said it was perplexing that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) granted conditional approval to Sri Haneco Sdn Bhd on April 22 to develop the lots. 

“There has been no change to the KLCP. While it is possible for someone to buy land, they cannot develop on it without first amending the plan,” he said, questioning how approval was then given for the development. 

“What is happening today is many developers will buy the land first before putting in a request to develop. They would later argue that the land has already been purchased. It shouldn’t be this way. 

“The KLCP should take precedence over land use. Landowners should purchase with their eyes open (that amendment should be made to the plan first before they decide to buy land).” 

Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents’ Association chairman Abdul Hafiz Abu Bakar similarly decried DBKL’s move to approve a development that is in direct breach of the KLCP, a plan that was drafted and compiled by DBKL itself. 

“They spent years and some RM30 million to come up with the plan, but they are also the very people who are going against the plan.”

Last Saturday, The Vibes had reported that Sri Haneco was given conditional approval to develop luxury apartments along Lorong Maarof in Bangsar, located beside a storm water retention pond.

While DBKL has given assurance that the pond will remain, residents in the affluent Bukit Bandaraya area have raised environmental concerns, especially after landslides that occurred in the area late last year following heavy downpour. 

They also rubbished DBKL’s claim that engagements were held with the residents there, in accordance with Rule 5 of the Federal Territory Planning Act 1982, before the approval was granted to the developer. 

Project should never have been approved

In view of the contravention of the KLCP, BBRA adviser Datuk M. Ali demanded that the proposed development be scrapped immediately, while warning of the potential major environmental repercussions that could occur if it continues. 

He also took DBKL to task for granting conditional approval to the developer for the project that should not have been entertained in the first place. 

Ali added that the move is also not in line with Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim’s statement in January that all existing water retention ponds in the capital will be preserved and not undergo any commercial development. 

“The minister must stay true to his words. He must re-emphasise that no such project will take place. Otherwise, the prime minister must intervene, not just on this particular project, but all developments on hill slopes across KL. 

“We are not against all developments, we are for sustainable development. I think it’s quite simple, if a proposed project is against KLCP, then stop it, reject it. Don’t waste everybody’s time and money.” 

Ali said the recent controversy surrounding the retention pond in Bangsar is also further testimony of why local government elections, including for the mayor position, are much needed. 

“The mayor must be answerable to KL folk, not the minister or anybody else. We insist that the mayor and councillors be elected. The people of the city must have a say in developments taking place here.” 

Echoing Ali’s call, Tan similarly said Shahidan must commit to his previous statement that all retention ponds remain off-limits to any form of development, while urging the minister to initiate a probe into how the land was allowed to be sold to a private developer. 

It is understood that the Lands and Mines Department had transferred the ownership of the two lots of land to Sri Haneco some time in 2017. 

“We urge the minister and his ministry to commit to protecting Federal Hill from further encroachment. With all these recent developments, we see the hill, which is the last sizable green lung in the area, slowly carved-up.” – The Vibes, September 9, 2022